title: Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization studies of beta-microseminoprotein in the human gastric mucosa.
abstract: beta-Microseminoprotein is a 10-kDa disulphide-rich protein with unknown function which is present in the mucus of the airways, gastrointestinal tract and urogenital tract. In this paper, an investigation of the distribution of beta-microseminoprotein in the human stomach is reported. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were used. beta-Microseminoprotein was found to be localized mainly in the antrum part of the stomach and in two types of cells. Cells of the most abundant type (designated M-cells) were the neutral mucin-containing cells in the bottom part of the gastric glands and the surface epithelium. Virtually all these cells contained both beta-microseminoprotein mRNA and protein product. Cells of the second type (designated E-cells) were found in a zone one-third up from the bottom of the gastric glands, where gastric endocrine cells are located. The E-cells were fewer than the M-cells and usually solitary. They seemed to have a high concentration of protein compared with their low mRNA level. The majority of the E-cells contained chromogranin A and gastrin. The observations made have implications for the understanding of the differentiation of the mucosal cells in the antrum of the stomach and form a basis for future studies of beta-microseminoprotein in gastric disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Lund, University Hospital of Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Weiber
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lindström
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lilja
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bjartell
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fernlund
mesh_terms: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D019858:Enteroendocrine Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000737:chemistry; D005752:Gastric Mucins / Q000032:analysis; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011467:Prostate / Q000737:chemistry; D029584:Prostatic Secretory Proteins; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005752:Gastric Mucins; D010455:Peptides; D029584:Prostatic Secretory Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins; C043076:beta-microseminoprotein